Well, that was a busy weekend. And we’ve got two more weeks of busy to get through. UPDATE: at the end of the post. I’m forever forgetting shit.

First, my son ((he’s my oldest child)) turned 14 on Sunday! Usually, I do a birthday post, with pictures from when they ((my kids)) were super tiny, up until now. I try and do birthday portraits *on* their birthday, or at least the day after…But, ((and this happened with Mac, too…because I’m stuck with this 13in. laptop)) on W.’s birthday, he had some friends over, so I didn’t really see him much. Then, on Monday, he left for a while too, so I didn’t shoot anything then either. *Then* the weather has been super shitty. Like, cold and rainy and dark…so I’ve shot absolutely nothing. :\ So, my plan is this: on June 11th or so, I’ll find out if I’ll be getting another computer. One that I can actually *work* on, and I’ll then shoot his portraits. Not that he’ll be thrilled, but whatever. Maybe the weather will be good then, too.

He had a good day, though I got him the touchscreen mp3 player he wanted, along with some new headphones. He got 20 bucks from his great Gramma ((which he says he’s going to use on a Playstation points card…something about buying the map packs for Black Ops or something…)) he got a pocket knife from one of his friends ((which I almost fainted over…considering what he did two weeks ago with a pocket knife that’s at least 2x smaller than the one he just got…though, this new one locks into place when it’s open. So, that’s a relief.)), and a new basketball from someone else, and, a PS3 controller from someone else. ((He’s wanted two controllers for like ever now, so he could play Zombies with the girls)) He and his friends devoured like ten pounds of chicken wings, complete with celery, carrots and ranch dressing…He said it was a good day I agreed, minus the fact that we didn’t get to webcam with my Mum, which I was looking forward to.

My birthday boy is the one in the white shirt…shot on Sunday.

Monday, the kids didn’t have school. Mike was planning to take them over to the school for a bit when he got back from helping some friends out with something. The kids were all in the living room, and I was in the office reading, and all of a sudden G. starts crying. Like, really crying. I look at her, and she’s holding her foot, saying she stubbed her toe. On the goddamn threshold between the living room and the kitchen…the same fucking threshold I’ve been asking Mike to finish since….oh, last fucking year. August, to be exact.

Well, she ran her toe into it good…and when she sat down so I could look at it, I saw blood, and immediately that panic kicked in. I touched her toenail, and it felt *squishy* ((it’s the only way I can describe it)) and in that panic, my first thought was that she somehow managed to slice off the top of her toe. ((which, after the panic subsided, I realized wasn’t even possible…)) At the same moment I asked W. to grab the phone book to get the number for where Mike was at, he pulled in the driveway. Turned out, she almost ripped her toenail off. She didn’t go over to the school when the kids went, cause she said it hurt too much. Instead, her and I stayed home, and we sat on the sofa. Her, watching ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2′, and me reading ‘Duma Key’ ((again)). For two days, she had to wear flip-flops, because she was afraid to put her foot in a regular shoe for fear that her toenail would fall off. Actually, today is the first day she’s worn sneakers. She was a little scared, but she said it didn’t hurt. Also, I think she was tired of not being able to run around. Not to mention, today is L.’s T-ball parent game, and right after, is G.’s parent softball game. She didn’t want to miss that. ((She didn’t play in Tuesdays softball game…at that time, she couldn’t run at all. And there was no way she could play in flip-flops))

I had an hour or work to do on Monday, and then I worked from home on Tuesday…I went in yesterday, and I’ll be going in later on today…Yesterday, the day started off cold and rainy, and then, when 3pm rolled around and I left work, it was sunny, warm and humid. That was a nice turn around I went over to check my garden when I got out of the truck, and got all ‘oooh!’ ((I’ll have to get pictures of it this weekend…)) It’s doing pretty good, considering I got a late start, and everything went in as seeds. Today, the weather is just the same as it was yesterday morning…it’d be nice if it changes like it did yesterday, too. According to accuweather, it’s supposed to be like 70 degrees. But cloudy. I guess I won’t complain. It’s better than the 46 degrees it was on Tuesday.

I don’t think there’s anything going on tomorrow…I mean, as far as school activities. But, next week, W. has his class trip ((he’ll be gone for three days)), the younger kids have a field trip…then, the next week, which is the last week of school, we have our outing with the school at the lake, then, graduation, and the last day of school. Man, I can’t believe how fast this year has flown. I think I probably say that every year, but it seems like every year goes by faster and faster… I just know that this summer is going to fly by, too..mostly because, at the end of it, W. will be heading off to high school, and Mac will be heading into Kindergarten. o_O But I don’t want to think about that right now. I’ve got three months till then, practically.

I’ve no other news, really…I read ‘Duma Key’ again, and now I’m starting, yet again, on ‘Under the Dome’. W. is re-reading Harry Potter, and while he’s on book 7, after I finished Duma Key yesterday, I brought it up to him. I told him that when he finished Harry Potter, he should give that one a try. I don’t know if he will…But, before I even left the room, he starting reading the first page.

Aside from the copious amounts of reading I’ve been doing, I’m also stuck on watching only 3 different movies: ‘Rose Red’, ‘Storm of the Century’, and ‘The Shining’ ((not the Stanley Kubrick one…)) It started when I was painting the office, and I grabbed Rose Red, because it’s a long movie, and I wouldn’t have to look for something new to watch for a few hours. Now, I’m just in the habit of watching it. Last Friday nite, G. was heading to a school dance, and Mike and W. weren’t home…L. came into the office, with ‘Dolls’ in her hand. Not sure if you know what I’m referring to…but it’s this:

((That’s the cover of the dvd I own…not my picture, though…))

She says to me “Wanna watch this with me?”, and I was like “hells yes I do!” But, that dvd is so scratched, I told her I wasn’t sure if it still even worked. Turns out, it did work So, I got to watch some of it, but then G.’s friends’ parents showed up, and while G. and their daughter were at the school dance, they hung out here with us for a few hours Their youngest daughter, and Mac and L., were all cuddled up in my bed, watching the movie. ((W. was in the living room, playing NBA2K11)) L. ended up falling asleep, so T. and Mac were playing together…until around 9:30 or so, when G. called and said she was ready to come home. ((The dance was over at 10pm…and that’s late for my kids. Well, not so much for W., but for the girls, it’s late))

She went to bed, and I was going to go to bed, but L. and Mac were taking up my entire bed almost, so I got comfy in the chair and fell asleep there for a while…only to wake up later on. I stood next to my bed like ‘ok, now where do I fit into this picture?’, and ended up sleeping at the foot of the bed.

No big deal. I can sleep practically anywhere, anyway.

I was going to update the site over the weekend…but with all the stuff that went on, I didn’t get to. Now, I figure I’ll wait and see what happens with the computer situation.

I think I’m also out of things to say…besides, I have to get ready for work soon.

Until, probably this weekend…
<333

UPDATE: Right, cause I’m forever forgetting things…I’m sure you guys have heard of Bob Marley…the singer guy. But, have you ever heard of Bob Marley the comedian? My son told me about him after he’d heard one of the guys cd’s while riding to Bangor with a friend…This guy is so fucking funny! W. has one of his cd’s on his mp3 player, so sometimes, W. will just come out with random phrases of this guys’. Lately, it’s “Oh! A piece of produce! I’m gonna hafta go in the other room and calm down!”.

If you have some time, and want something to listen to, check him out I’ll link to the ones we love. First, one called ‘Upta Camp’. ((He’s from Maine…so we can relate to sooo much of his stuff…even though we aren’t the True Mainers…y’know, cause we haven’t live up here our whole lives…))

Go watch it on youtube, and the rest of the parts you’ll find to the right. Also, while you’re there, check out ‘Drop it Haahd’.

You won’t regret it

/UPDATE

A recap of my week…sort of.

Wrong time to start blogging. I have to leave here in an hour and a half, to run some errands before work…

We had an away softball game yesterday, and I underestimated the weather. It was, well, nice out when I left for work…((I went in early, cause I had some stuff to get done)) but I’d still been chilly all day. By the time I left the building ((at 2:30…we were taking the bus to the game with the kids)) it was pretty warm out. We got to the game, and then I realized it was downright hot out. ((Granted, coming from 40 degree days straight to like 80 degrees…that’s a big deal, until we get used to it))

W. is sitting out the rest of softball season…don’t ask why. So, because he couldn’t play, he was instead playing the part of a human jungle gym

Our team did so good, and they played an awesome game ((We only lost by 1 point)) I love watching the games, but Mac and L. get soooooo bored, so all I hear for the entire thing is “I’m hungry”, “I have to pee…again” “Is there anymore juice?” “Can we go now?” “I’m hungry” “I’m bored…bored…bored…bored…” You get the idea. It doesn’t matter how much juice, or snacks I bring, it’s always the same. They really only get like that at away games though, because I won’t just let them wander off and play out of my sight. At home games, I let them go off on their own, because I know where they’re going. They love home games

We didn’t get home last nite till 7pm. Not a huge deal, but, the girls had lots of homework. G. was up till 9pm, and L. was up till 8:30. ((they’re usually in bed at 8pm)) I mean, sometimes, they lay in bed awake till 9pm or so, but because of being out in the fresh air, then the bus ride home…They were exhausted when we got back. Mac fell asleep like a half hour after dinner ((she was asleep before 8pm)) and L. was asleep like 5 minutes after getting into bed. After I tucked G. in, I realized I was hungry, so then I had dinner, and went straight to bed. I don’t think I was awake for more than 10 minutes before I was totally out.

W. has to go to the high school today for an orientation thing, so he had to be up at 5:30 to catch the bus for 6:30. I woke up at 5:30 ((I had set my coffee early yesterday Yay for thinking ahead)) and planned to get up, but apparently I didn’t, because the next thing I knew, I heard W. saying “She drove right by! It’s not my fault!”. He was talking about the bus…so, Mike told him to get in the truck, and he’d drive him…but as they got outside, the bus had come back

But then I was like, “oh shit! I fell back to sleep”. So I got up in quite a hurry…and now I’m trying to gather myself, and plan for all the stuff I have to get done today.

But, I’m going to backtrack for a minute…Back to Wednesday When the kids had their Spring Concert. About an hour before we were due to leave, L. told me this bit of news.

L.: “I have to sing a solo”
Me: O_O “Really??”
L.: “Yep” and she put on her excited but shy face. “I’m a little nervous”
Me: “Sweetie, that’s awesome! Not that you’re nervous…but that you’re doing a solo!”

Then she gives me her ‘I’m-proud-of-myself’ smile Then, while at the concert, I had a feeling I knew when it was her turn to get up and sing…because she all of a sudden got really smiley, and covered her face with her hands…Then, she stood up, and walked to her spot…and she looked a bit nervous, but more excited. And then she sang.

Now, for the most part, I’m just a big bitch, but when it comes to my kids, I’m not. I’m such a total sap it’s not even funny, so of course, watching her up there, I swelled with pride and my eyes got all teary. Which I didn’t want her to see. ((I used to tear up when G. was little too, and she’d be on stage…but, if she saw me, she’d start bawling, and have to leave. )) So, I stayed behind my camera until she was done, and then gave her the biggest smile I could, trying to tell her how proud of her I was. ((After the show was over, I did indeed tell her, and she responded back with a ginormous hug ))

That’s my girl

W. had a part in it as well…him and his group did ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’, but for some reason, their cd wouldn’t play, so the audience sang the song for them

My kid is the one in the catchers outfit.

G. and her group did that parody song ‘Coke and Sprite’ Oh man, they definitely put a lot of effort into it. They’d practiced a ton, and it really paid off!

G. is the first in line, in the black turtleneck

Mac had fun, as usual

Awww

However, while she loves to watch the show, her favorite part is always the food at the end When it was time for the kids to eat, she loaded her plate with all the things that caught her eye…even though some of it, she wasn’t going to eat. She just thought it looked pretty

Also, got a few shots of W. and a couple of his friends.

W. on the right. He’s always the one who won’t look at the camera.

And these are some random snapshots

W. shot this one, when he was bored at the game

I noticed my habits are color coordinated.

Mac, drinking juice on the bus ride home.

W. got bored on the bus and took apart his marker.

Then, yesterday, we had a softball game, and our team won! Afterwards, there was a school dance, and while W. wasn’t allowed to go, G. decided she wanted to. Mind, she’s in 4th grade. At first, she didn’t want to go, but in the end, she changed her mind. It ran from 7-10pm, and by 9:20-ish, G. was ready to come home. So, Mike headed over to pick her up, and when she got home, she was ready for bed. L. had fallen asleep in my bed about an hour or so earlier. So, I tucked G. in, and went back into my room. I ended up falling asleep in the chair ((L. and Mac were in my bed anyway, taking up almost the whole bed)) but I moved later on. Granted, I had to lay across the end of the bed, but whatever…

It was weird, cause earlier last nite, I was freezing, and it was chilly out. But, as I was laying in bed, I was noticing that it was much, much warmer in my room. I opened the windows, and found that while it was about 3 in the morning, it was much warmer out then when I had gone to bed. I didn’t sleep too much, cause I had three cats with me, mixed with the girls’ feet…Not too bad, though…I got up early It’s definitely not cold out, rather it’s very warm. But, it’s humid as hell. Ugh. I just hope the bugs aren’t terrible. I was thinking of checking the garden today for weeds and stuff. Not sure if there are any, but I should probably make sure.

Tomorrow is W.’s birthday! His birthday present came on Monday, and he’s been itching to have it. I’ve been itching to give it to him, too…but, he’s got to wait till tomorrow

So, until then, when I’ll have a birthday post…

<3333

When it comes to my coffee, I should leave well enough alone. UPDATE at the end.

Up early again this morning… Up, but not out of bed. Mikes’ alarm hadn’t gone off, so I figured it wasn’t yet 5:30, but I got sick of laying there. Besides, I wanted coffee.

I walked to the kitchen, noticing yet again, that it was super muggy in here ((oh, yay)) and noticed it was five minutes to 6. Well, well, well. Either he never set his alarm, or he set it to go off later on because he stayed up so late ((again)). Oh well. I’m up before the kids have to get up, and that’s what matters.

When it comes to my coffee, I don’t have like a ’6 scoops of coffee to 8 cups of water’. I’ve never been a measure-out-the-coffee-person. I fill the water up to 10, or 8, depending on how long I want to wait for it, and I pour the coffee into the basket. Usually to just below the line of the filter. ((I like strong coffee…)) Well, this morning, after I put in the water, I noticed it was just below 10, and then I looked at the coffee amount and was like, ‘take a bit off’, so I did…And I shouldn’t have. :\ It isn’t quite as strong as I like it. Next time, I don’t care: I’m just leaving the coffee in there, even if it looks like a bit too much.

I knew last week, that this week was going to be a busy one. It’s Spring Fling week at the kids school, there’s two softball games back to back ((Thursday & Friday)) *and* this Sunday, the 27th, is my sons 14 birthday!

Yesterday, the kids had crazy hair day. L. wasn’t sure what she wanted, but when she sat down in front of me, I was all ‘I got this’. I didn’t take this picture, but a teacher at our school did.

Only, by that time, the flowers had gotten a bit wilty. They were sticking straight up in the morning before she left

G. had 4 braids and a twisty bun thing, but she ended up taking it down not too long after leaving the house, because she said it hurt her head. ((I knew it probably would)) And W. had me shave some lines into the back of his hair. ((The pictures of those two are still on the camera…I wasn’t really online at all yesterday, except for when I had to work))

Today, it’s hat day. It’s supposed to be a tropical island look hat, but all we have is baseball caps. I mean, we *are* from New England, not Hawaii. So, G. wants me to go out to the yard and get some lilac branches and stick them on a hat for her. Not sure how well that will work, but I’ll give it a shot. Then, later on today, the kids are putting on their Spring Concert. That’s always fun Mac gets so excited, because she loves that they have food when it’s all over.

Speaking of Mac, she had her kindergarten screening on Monday. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t blog about it yet. Now, I’ve done the Kindergarten screening 3 times already, but, since the last one was 3 years ago, forgive me I guess, I forgot exactly what it entailed. If I’d of remembered, I’d of told Mac what was going to happen. But, I walked in, and immediately, I was having a panic attack. Mostly, I think, because I hadn’t been into the building in over a week, and the longer I stay home, the harder it is for me to go out in public…((ugh, but I’m not going down that road right now…)) Anyway, maybe Mac sensed something, because the first person we sat with, she was nervous as hell. She was sitting in my lap, so I’m sure she was feeling a bit of my anxiety. I kept hugging her, trying to reassure her that everything was alright, and by the time we were sitting with the second person ((who is going to be her teacher when she starts school in September, and it’s a person she already knows)) she was much calmer. ((So was I, for that matter)) When we got to the last person she had to sit with, she was ready to be done. She wanted to go home, and watch a movie. Now, Mac is a smart kid. I’m not just saying that cause she’s *my* kid, or because I feel obligated to say that. She really is a smart kid. She’s got a great memory, first off. She remembers things like it’s nobodys business. No lie.

Yet, because she was ready to come home and be finished there, the last person she had to see…well, let’s just say Mac was being Mac.

Teacher: “Can you hop on one foot for me?”
Mac: “Yep”
And she hops on one foot.
Teacher: “Ok., Now, can you hop on the *other* foot”
Mac: “I can’t do that.”
Teacher: “Ok…can you do this?” and she skipped across the room.
Mac: “I can’t do that”
Teacher: “Ok. Well, then do whatever you want.”
Mac: “I don’t know what to do.”
Teacher: “Anything”
Mac: ” “
Teacher: “Ok. COme sit down with me”.

Now, Mac doesn’t just *sit* on a chair, either. Never has, actually. She’s always been , half on the chair, half off. It’s just what she does. She’ll sit with one leg under her butt, and the other one on the floor….and that’s how she was sitting at the table there. The teacher kept telling her to sit right ((well, with both feet on the floor)) and Mac kept moving back to the way she normally sits.

Then, they were supposed to be building with blocks, and Mac says “Hold on a second. My foot is itchy”. She took off her shoe and proceeded to scratch her foot…then she needed the teacher to help her put back on her shoe. When she was finally ready, she had some writing to do. Now, at home, Mac can totally copy down almost anything you show her. ((I know, I’ve done it with her many times))

Teacher: “Can you copy this shape?” It was a triangle.
Mac: “I can’t make that…Will you do it for me?”
Teacher: “Can you copy this shape?” It was a diamond.
Mac couldn’t do that one either, I guess.
Teacher: “Can you write your name here?”
Mac: “I don’t know how to”
Teacher: “Do you know a letter?”
Mac: “Yes”
Teacher: “Then just write a letter. Or just write anything”
Mac: “Ok”
And she proceeded to write…but I didn’t see what she wrote down.

I’m not worried about her having a hard time in school, actually. She wasn’t exactly ready for that stuff, but she knows it all, even though she pretended she didn’t. ((She does that at home, too…acts like she can’t do something, when in reality she totally can))

She was excited to go home, though She did indeed watch a movie, and then we went outside for a little bit, before I had to get ready for work. Then, I was ready about an hour early ((on purpose, because she wanted to go outside and play Zombies before I left)) After work, G. had softball practice ((so did L.)) so we were there till 4pm…then, there was a meeting about the class trip…

Yesterday, I didn’t go into the building, but worked from home instead. I did lots of cleaning around the house, and decided to wash the floors. Not the best idea when it’s like 98% humidity. Oh well. They got done. There was no practice or anything…

There’s no practice today, but that’s because of the concert tonite. I’m going into work in a few hours…

It’s nice out again, but not sunny in the least. I hope that changes. I’m tired of these clouds and dampness.

So, until probably Saturday…
<333

UPDATE: I figured it kind of pointless to make a new post for one little thing…but, I think on Saturday, instead of a new post, I’m going to redo the entire blog. Mostly, to reflect changes I’ve decided I needed. Also, the photoblog will get a makeover, too. I’m kind of excited!
/UPDATE